Montverde Invitational: Scott’s Takeaways

Prep Hoops took in the action from the Montverde Invitational on Friday.  This event featured six of the premier prep schools in the country.  We dive into our thoughts on the three games here in Montverde Invitational: Scott’s Takeaways!

Future SEC Guard Rivals Battle

The first game of the day featured a pair of elite guards that will be SEC next year.  Tennessee commit Kennedy Chandler is one of the premier points guards in the country.  The Sunrise Christian (KS) five star guard has an elite feel for the game getting to the hoop on slick drives as he blows past his opponents like they are standing still.  He knocked down an array of threes and displayed his top notch passing both in the half court and transition.  Finished with 20 points.  On the other side for Wasatch Academy (UT) future Kentucky Wildcat Nolan Hickman had his moments of brilliance as well.  Hickman is a 6’4” guard that can play both on and off the ball.  Silky smooth jump shot that he drilled from all over the floor with such fluidity.  Works well around ball screens setting up his shot.  Went for 17 points.  The other high profile guard in this game 2022 Richard Isaac displayed his great distribution skills in spurts as he is such a creative passer.  The scoring wasn’t there on this night as he only hit one three and struggled scoring at the cup.

Kendall Brown Kendall Brown 6'8" | SF Sunrise Christian | 2021 #9 Nation KS is Human Pogo Stick

It has been a minute since I have seen Kendall Brown and there is no doubt he is one of the truly special athletes in the 2021 class.  The 6’8” combo forward who is headed to Baylor has NBA tools with his size, versatility, and bounce.  Brown excels in transition where he skied above the rim for some of the most impressive dunks we have seen in a long time.  Another sick move he had was an and-1 where he went behind his back, changed directions, and then finished through a defender.  The next step is to refine his half court game and we didn’t see him shoot it from deep, but there is no doubt he has out of this world hops.

Jaden Akins With Dunk of the Year

Michigan State commit Jaden Akins has major hops and that was shown on the dunk of the year.  Akins absolutely posterized his opponent with a one handed dunk where he rose over him for a powerful finish.  The Sunrise Christian point guard has elite athleticism and it was shown on more than just that play.

Sunrise Christian Depth

The depth that Sunrise Christian Academy boasts was super impressive.  Class of 2022 point guard Willie Lightfoot is a well built lefty lead guard that Is shifty with the ball in his hands and slices and dices up the defense.  Another junior in Gradey Dick didn’t have his usual monster effort, but still impressive tools here at 6’7” for the wing with the ability to put it on the deck with nifty finishes.  Was impressed with three of the SCA frontline players.  Kansas 2021 commit 6’9” post Zach Clemence displayed a soft touch and mid-range jumper.  Minnesota signee Kenny Pohto was a fun player to watch.  Broad shouldered five man that can stretch the D with a pair of top of the key threes, rebounded well in area, and showed nice low post moves for 12 points.  Jaylon McDaniel is a sleeper 2022 post with his college ready body and the way he cleans the glass.

Ohio State has Impact Commit in 2022 with Roddy Gayle

I got my first evaluation of Ohio State 2022 commit Roddy Gayle and he put together quite a performance.  The 6’4” shooting guard has a ton of tools in the tool box on the offensive end.  Turn around jumpers in the lane, threes, probing the defense for pull ups.  Uses his strength to take it downhill for scores in the lane.  Gayle had 20 points.  Excellent early pick up for Ohio State.

Under the Radar Names on Wasatch Academy

There were three under the radar players we were impressed with in this game from the Utah powerhouse.  Houston 2021 commit Robbie Armbrester is a 6’6” combo forward that plays with physicality on the block and on the glass.  Also has some shake in the open floor.  Class of 2022 6’9” center Keba Keita is a five man that is a finisher, shot blocker, and intimidating rebounder.  BYU signee Fousseyni Traore caught our eye as the 6’7” thick bodied four man plays with a high-motor in the paint that turned into production.

AZ Compass Prep Has Arrived with Dominant Performance

What a performance from AZ Compass Prep on Friday night.  They absolutely throttled the premier program in high school basketball over the last three decades Oak Hill winning 78-51.   It was a group effort.  Their backcourt controlled the show however.  Unsigned 2021 point guard Javon Small used his quickness getting in the lane and pushing the pace for scores.  Drew defenders and dished.  Excellent in the pick/roll game.  Creighton commit TyTy Washington started off slow, but then exploded.  One of the better shot making point guards we have seen in 2021.  Drilled an array of threes pulling up and off movement.  Also mixed in pull ups from mid-range and is a crisp passer that is willing to dish to a teammate for a better shot.  Dayton commit DaRon Holmes used his athleticism and mobility in the paint finishing dump offs, rim running, and swatting shots.  Lot of upside here.  Speaking of upside lets take a look at a pair of their 2022 prospects.  Seven foot center Adrame Diongue made plays early with his long and wiry frame.  Threw down an alley-oop, got on the offensive glass, and played with a lot of energy.  Illinois native AJ Storr broke out this past summer for the Illinois Hoopstars on the Prep Hoops Circuit.  Coming off the bench he played well in time on the floor.  Strong frame with an athletic build.  Clean looking three from the top of the key and crashed the offensive glass for a put back.  Both of these two 2022s are tracking as high-major prospects.

Oak Hill Academy Back Court Flashes

Oak Hill Academy (VA) really struggled in this game.  They turned it over and defensively looked lost at times.  Their go to player MJ Rice flashed at times.  Rice is a powerfully built 2022 6’5” two guard that loves to get his shoulders turned and go downhill.  Absorbs contact well at the rim and finishes through the threes.  Good rebounder for a wing.  Their 2021 two guard Camryn Carter had some glimpses early including a slick step back three and an acrobatic scoop shot.

Battle of High-Major Two Guards in Finale

The story of the finale between Montverde (FL) and La Lumiere (IN) was Langston Love Langston Love 6'4" | SG Montverde Academy | 2021 State #31 Nation FL and JJ Starling.  Baylor commit Langston Love is a senior two guard that had it all working.  Strong wing that can score it effectively from all three levels as he got to the rack, drilled mid-range shots, and connected from deep.  His counter part was 2022 four star wing JJ Starling JJ Starling 6'4" | PG La Lumiere | 2022 State #24 Nation IN .  Liked what we saw out of the silky smooth wing with how well he shot it from deep and was constantly moving to get open.  Mixed in some drives for buckets as well.

Caleb Houstan Caleb Houstan 6'8" | SF Montverde Academy | 2021 State #6 Nation FL was a Problem in 3rd Quarter

In the first half you wouldn’t have known that Caleb Houstan was a top 10 recruit.  The 2021 Michigan commit made it apparent at the start of the third quarter as he erupted for 12 points in that quarter.  The 6’8” power forward fits the new age game perfectly being able to play inside/out.  He couldn’t buy a shot in the first half, but knocked down a couple of them in the third with his quiet mechanics.  Got it all started by seeing the ball go through the net on a dunk followed by a couple of free throws.  Michigan is getting a big time prospect in Houstan.

Jalen Duren Jalen Duren 6'9" | PF Montverde Academy | 2022 FL is Force

The top prospect in the gym on Friday was Montverde 2022 center Jalen Duren.  The #3 player in the 2022 class nationally is the absolute definition of the word man-child.  He has a college ready body right now with broad shoulders and superior strength.  Played with a motor rebounding everything in and out of his area along with swatting quite a few shots.  Offensively he uses his power around the hoop including rip throughs and hook shots.  Mauls on the glass for second chance points finishing with thunderous slams.  Potential lottery pick in a few years.

Future Bright at La Lumiere

La Lumiere has quite a big of talent in the 2022 and 2023 class to track.  Vincent Iwuchukwu is a 7’0” junior center with a long and lanky build.  Hit a three and showed excellent mobility for his size.  Another projectable athlete is 6’7” wing Chisom Okpara.  Had a sweet spin move for a score.  Their 2023 point guard is Illinois native Jeremy Fears.  The young high-major guard hit a corner three and ran the show for La Lu.